Means for preventing slipping of violin strings in tuning



Jan. 8, 1935. .11.. KROEPLIN 1,987,069

MEANS FORPREVENTING SLIPPING OF VIOLIN STRINGS IN TUNING Filed Sept. 25, 1953 Attorngfi Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR PREVENTING SLIPPING 0F VIOLIN STRINGS IN TUNING 2 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement on violin strings and their manufacture, and has for one purpose preventing the ends of violin strings from slipping while tuning. Another purpose is the provision of means for rendering the ends of violin strings frictional in order to make it harder for them to slip during tuning. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing where- Figure 1 illustrates one form of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a variant form.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawing.

A indicates a violin string. The end of the string which is passed through a hole in a tuning peg is roughened. In the form of Figure 1, I illustrate an adhesive coating B which may be of shellac, white varnish or any other suitable material which is adhesive when wet. C represents any suitable abrasive, for example, hardened flint or fine white sand.

It will be understood that while I find it good practice to roughen the end of the string by applying an abrasive to it, I may also roughen the string end by other methods, for example, by roughening or abrading the end of the string itself, as at D in Figure 2.

While my invention is particularly applicable to violin strings, it may also be applied to other stringed instruments, such as viola, cello, double bass or harp.

While I find it practical to use shellac or white varnish, it will be understood that other media or adhesives or coatings might be employed. While I have found it practical to use crushed flint, it will be understood that other abrasives may be employed, such as fine white sand.

I also find it useful to color either the adhesive or the abrasive or both to conform to the color of the end wrapping of a wound string.

The form of Figure 1 has a substantial advantage in that the crust of dried adhesive and abrasive tends to hold the string end bent after it has been passed through the hole in the tuning peg and has been bent by the finger of the user. This tendency to hold the bend and the even more important frictional effect of the abrasive, prevent unintended slipping of the string through the hole in the tuning peg during the tuning operation.

It will be realized that I wish my description and claims to be taken as in a broad sense, illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my specific showing. Many changes may be made in size, shape, relation and proportion without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I treat the end of a violin string in order to roughen an inch or more of the end of the string. I may also so treat the end of the string that when it is bent it will hold the bend. For example, when a string end which is covered with an abrasive coating is stuck through a hole in a tuning peg and is then bent over, the stiffness of the abrasive crust will tend to prevent the end of the string from unbending. This and its roughness will keep the string from drawing through the peg hole during the tuning operation.

I find it practical to obtain my result by dipping the end of the string into a suitable adhesive substance, such as shellac or white varnish. I then dip the string into an abrasive substance, such as finely crushed flint. The flint adheres to the adhesive and then the adhesive is allowed to dry, leaving a permanent rough or abrasive coating or crust on the end of the string. When the end of the string is passed through the hole of the tuning peg and then bent over, the abrasive coating will prevent any unintended withdrawal of the string end through the hole in the peg.

It is a fact notorious in musical experience that string ends have heretofore tended easily to pull out of or slip through the holes in tuning pegs. This is-a constant and trying annoyance in the use of stringed instruments such as violins, and is substantially completely prevented by my method of treatment.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a musical instrument string having on the surface of one end thereof a portion substantially rougher than the surface of the major portion of the string, said surface portion being adapted, by its roughness, to adhere frictionally to the surface of a tuning peg when wound thereabout.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a musical instrument string having on the surface of one end thereof a portion substantially rougher than the surface of the major portion of the string, said surface portion being adapted, by it roughness, to adhere frictionally to the surface of a tuning peg when wound thereabout, said rougher surface portion including an abrasive coating, and an adhesive bond for said coating, adapted to adhere to the string and to maintain said coating in position about said string, the coating on the string causing the same to hold the bend after the string has been bent around the tuning D HERMAN H. KROEPLIN. 

